Bulgarian pop star Dara has won the Eurovision Song Contest with her pneumatic dance anthem Bangaranga. The 27-year-old topped both the public and the jury vote in a nail-biting conclusion, soaring ahead of Israel in second and Romania in third to score a massive 516 points
‘Entire NTA panel under scanner’: CBI widens NEET leak probe after 2nd insider arrestNTA expert Manisha Mandhare was arrested in the NEET-UG leak case, a day after alleged kingpin PV Kulkarni was held. Updated on: May 17, 2026 8:03 AM IST By Anita Goswami | Reported by Neeraj Chauhan Share via
‘Dead scared to take a loan’: Hyderabad techie says IT jobs no longer feel secure amid layoffsA Hyderabad-based software engineer claims he is “dead scared” to take a loan right now due to lack of job security. Updated on: May 17, 2026 6:44 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay keeps home, police and women welfare portfolios in first TVK governmentTN Governor Rajendra Arlekar approved the allocation of portfolios to the nine ministers, along with Vijay, who were sworn in last week. Updated on: May 17
Meta employees took free snacks, chargers during layoffs: ‘Almost like doomsday’A former Meta employee has revealed that workers at the tech giant stuffed their bags with free goodies on the eve of the company’s first major layoff Updated on: May 17
From Power Play To Power Pact? NDA's Bihar Battle Heats Up As Nitish, Chirag Test BJP's Balancing Act
From Power Play To Power Pact? NDA's Bihar Battle Heats Up As Nitish, Chirag Test BJP's Balancing Act
What started as a quiet round of informal talks among the BJP, JD(U), HAM, RLSP, and Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas) has now entered its hectic negotiation phase after the first round.
The first round of discussions was held on Sunday (October 5), while the second round is likely to take place midweek. However, the upcoming meetings are going to set the tone for a tense round of bargaining within the alliance.
The negotiations also reflect how the election in Bihar is not only about winning but getting the power equations right. At least this means the most for the BJP.
For them, the goal is to consolidate their 2020 gains and project themselves as the natural anchor of the NDA, determined to retain political dominance in Bihar. Although senior BJP leaders maintain that seat-sharing discussions have begun in a “conducive" atmosphere, the proposed 50-50 formula could create a complex situation in Patna.
But its allies are not making it easy. The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), uplifted by its leader Chirag Paswan's growing clout and goodwill within sections of the BJP, is likely to demand 30 to 35 seats, as per sources. However, the BJP is not yet ready to concede.
Meanwhile, the BJP's arrangement with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) is more structured. A 50-50 formula would give both partners roughly 120 seats each. Despite their history of political partings and reconciliations, the BJP still considers the JD(U) crucial for stability and caste balance in the state's electoral matrix.
However, this time the party needs to accommodate its smaller allies — Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha — to avoid a situation similar to 2020 and further conflict ahead of the presidential election in 2027.
Beyond the big two, three smaller allies, Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), and Kushwaha's Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) faction have also joined the NDA negotiation table, each seeking a respectable slice of the pie.
According to sources within BJP ranks, the party is contemplating giving around 30 seats to all three parties with LJP getting around 20 to 22 seats roughly, while the rest will go to HAM and RLSP.
“The party has done its ground survey, and the seat-sharing discussion is happening in a conducive manner. All the allies will agree to the winnability factor," said a senior BJP leader, who is in the core central election committee.
While two allies, HAM and RLSP, command limited vote bases, their presence complicates the coalition arithmetic further. The BJP wants to cap their share collectively within 10 to 12 seats, keeping enough room for its own candidates and JD(U)'s caste balance strategy.
The biggest balancing act, however, remains Chirag Paswan's assertive pitch. In 2020, his party's solo contest hurt JD(U) in dozens of seats, a memory that still shapes Nitish Kumar's caution.
Swipe Left For Next Video
This time, both BJP and JD(U) are wary as the former values Paswan's Dalit and youth connect, while the latter views him as a potential spoiler if not kept in check. For the BJP, the challenge is now to balance power, pride, and pragmatism, ensuring every ally feels politically relevant and respected without any one of them overreaching.
The next few weeks will determine whether the NDA can translate its display of unity into an actual seat-sharing consensus or whether it ends up repeating the familiar story of too many partners and too little space.
Source: News18
Related Posts: India's Informal Sector Records Robust Growth Despite Global Headwinds House churches in Chhattisgarh face an informal ban Raj Kundra shares how his father reacted when he started dating Shilpa Shetty Farah Khan reveals Main Hoon Na started as rom-com Groundwork started for data protection board Started Feeling Really Scared… Indian immigrant in US who started as a cab driver now makes $2 million annually India’s sports boom is just getting started Does Ozempic need to be taken forever once started Bengaluru fintech co-founder reveals raw truth behind why he started his company
Pati Patni Aur Woh Do box office collection day 2: Ayushmann Khurrana film shows spike; collects over ₹9 crorePati Patni Aur Woh Do box office collection day 2: How Mudassar Aziz's Ayushmann Khurrana, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh-starrer is faring. May 17, 2026
3 hours ago
The Union government on Saturday imposed restrictions on silver imports, moving several categories of the metal from the “free” to the “restricted” category. This means that the imports will now require authorisation from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of
3 hours ago
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill pointed to dropped catches as the reason for their 29-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders. The team's fielding faltered, allowing KKR to post a massive 247. Finn Allen capitalized with a blistering 93
2 hours ago
The star's directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach has premiered at Cannes - and one critic dubbed it a 'disaster'. It's the latest example of an A-lister heading behind the camera with baffling results. At the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday night, the festival's dapper organiser
2 hours ago
Trinamool Congress’ Rajganj candidate Swapna Barman on Friday alleged that unknown miscreants set fire to her house in Jalpaiguri. The fire, which broke out at about 8 pm, was doused and no one was inside the house during the incident, The Indian Express Bengali quoted the police as saying
1 days ago
After a heavy West Bengal poll defeat, Mamata Banerjee tells TMC candidates to rebuild the party, says members are free to leave. After the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suffered a massive defeat in the West Bengal assembly elections, party supremo Mamata Banerjee appealed to the candidates who fought
1 days ago
A video showing a man allegedly cutting part of a structural column from the balcony of a high-rise apartment has sparked shock and concern online. The clip, filmed from another building nearby, shows workers standing on the sixth floor of a tall residential tower while carrying out the risky task
1 days ago
What is Captagon and why is it called ‘Jihadi drug’? ExplainedCaptagon is the common street name historically associated with Fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant drug originally developed in the 1960s. Updated on: May 16, 2026 1:58 PM IST By Prawesh Lama | Edited by Shivam Pratap Singh Share
1 days ago
Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday described some unemployed youngsters as “cockroaches”, saying that they go on to become social media or Right to Information Act activists and start attacking the “system”, PTI reported. The remarks were made when a bench of Kant and Justice Joymalya
1 days ago
Indian naval ship arrives in Sri Lanka for operational deploymentIndian naval ship arrives in Sri Lanka for operational deployment Published on: May 16, 2026 12:53 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Colombo, Indian Naval Ship Sunayna has arrived at the port of Colombo for a three-day visit as part of
1 days ago
A dual-income techie has gone viral online after opening up about their fears of buying a Rs 1.7 crore flat at a time when layoffs and hiring slowdowns continue to haunt the IT sector. The discussion began after a software developer shared a detailed post on Reddit
1 days ago
JioHotstar has officially unveiled the OTT release date of Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, confirming the arrival of its ‘Raw and Undekha’ version in India with a grand digital premiere on June 4 at 7 PM. The film, starring Ranveer Singh, will begin streaming on JioHotstar from June 5, 2026
1 days ago
Chennai, May 16 (PTI) Aryaveer Dewan will spearhead India’s challenge at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships to be held in Panzhihua, China later this month. Dewan, who clinched the U-17 boys’ title last year, will move up to the U-19 category this time and enter the tournament
1 days ago
HR calls out colleague, management in resignation email over employee treatmentAn HR professional’s instant resignation email slamming toxic management and a colleague has sparked a massive discussion online. Updated on: May 16, 2026 1:13 PM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A LinkedIn
1 days ago
If you thought kheer could only be made with milk and sugar, this viral desi twist is here to surprise you. A unique version of India’s beloved dessert—Sugarcane Juice Kheer—is making waves online, with food lovers calling it the perfect blend of tradition and innovation
1 days ago
'Bindaas aaram karo': Manager offers 2-day period leave to female employee, internet dividedA WhatsApp chat between a manager and a newly joined female employee about period leave has divided the internet. Updated on: May 16, 2026 1:41 PM IST By Bhavya Sukheja Share via Copy link A manager’s
1 days ago
How well do you know your Indian single malts? In 2024, they surpassed imported malt sales for the first time, while distillers picked up major international awards and expanded a category once dismissed as a tropical novelty. In March 2026, John Distilleries’ Master Distiller Michael D’Souza
1 days ago
Buenos Aires (Argentina), May 16 (AP) At 6 a.m., in the Mataderos neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, workers unload sides of beef from a truck outside a butcher shop as customers line up for wholesale purchases. Inside, 73-year-old owner Jorge García and his staff prepare meat orders before dawn
1 days ago
Is Iran hacking US fuel systems? Cyber breaches hit gas station tank monitors across states, says reportHackers reportedly compromised automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems that were connected to the internet without password protection. Updated on: May 16
1 days ago
Indian hockey has been rocked by yet another safeguarding controversy, with a member of the India U-18 men’s coaching staff removed from camp following allegations of sexual misconduct. According to multiple reports, support staff member Sudhir Golla was asked to leave the Indian setup in Bhopal
1 days ago
Step inside Rajeev Khandelwal’s stunning triplex Mumbai home with earthy interiors and cosy cornersHere’s a sneak peek into Rajeev Khandelwal’s Mumbai triplex featuring chic interiors, warm lighting and stylish décor. Published on: May 16, 2026 1:56 PM IST By Anukriti Srivastava Share via
1 days ago
Climate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwavesClimate Change crisis: IMD to change parameters to declare heatwaves Updated on: May 16, 2026 1:37 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Thiruvananthapuram, The IMD, along with its technical partners
1 days ago
, the state cybercrime department, has initiated action against the alleged illegal operations of across the state and issued notices to to remove applications facilitating unauthorised bike taxi operations, according to a report by The on Friday
1 days ago
Booked for the screen: Upcoming movies and web series adapted from bestsellersRanveer Singh might not be seen as Lord Shiva in the film adaptation of The Immortals of Meluha. But these stories from books are headed to your screen Published on: May 16
1 days ago
Social media CEOs once again are being called to testify before the Senate in light of mounting legal and public pressure to protect young users on their platforms. The leaders of Meta, Alphabet, TikTok and Snap were invited to testify next month before the Senate Judiciary Committee
1 days ago
The Election Commission has ordered a probe into allegations of foreign nationals voting in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. Police arrested ten foreign nationals attempting to fly out after noticing indelible ink on their fingers. These individuals, from Sri Lanka, the UK, and Canada
1 days ago
Don't miss out on muskmelon this summer: Fortis Delhi gastroenterologist shares its health benefitsMuskmelon is an underrated fruit that provides multiple health benefits in summer, explains Dr Shubham Vatsya. Updated on: May 16, 2026 1:46 PM IST By Debapriya Bhattacharya Share via Copy link Summer
1 days ago
